xiii, 146 pages ; 22 cm

The author presents a novel reading of the story of the Garden of Eden, not as a tale of the origins of sin and death, but as a tale of a chance of immortality, briefly accessible to humanity, but quickly lost. This new interpretation is both striking and compelling. Central to the book is its stress on the role and prevalence of the idea of immortality, commonly thought to be a later Greek and unbiblical import into Christian thinking. Reflection on immortality also leads to a reconsideration of ideas about death in the Hebrew Bible; about Sheol, the Hebrew underworld; and about the soul. The author brings out the importance of time for the Hebrew Bible and the concepts of length of days, showing that the threat is not death as such, but the manner and time of death. His study of chronology leads to a reconsideration of the story of Noah's ark, and he suggests that we view resurrection and immorality as complementary, rather than conflicting, ideas

"Based on five lectures given at the University of Bristol in 1990"--Page [v]

Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-127) and indexes

Adam and Eve, and the chance of immortality -- The naturalness of death, and the path to immortality -- Knowledge, sexuality and immortality -- Noah's Ark: Time, chronology and the Fall -- Immortality and resurrection: Conflict or complementarity?

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